scholarly journals Conveying Emotions by Touch to the Nao Robot: A User Experience Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Alenljung ◽  
Rebecca Andreasson ◽  
Robert Lowe ◽  
Erik Billing ◽  
Jessica Lindblom
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Emotional Communication ◽  
Qualitative Investigation ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Quality Requirements ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Nao Robot ◽  
Different Parts

Social robots are expected gradually to be used by more and more people in a wider range of settings, domestic as well as professional. As a consequence, the features and quality requirements on human–robot interaction will increase, comprising possibilities to communicate emotions, establishing a positive user experience, e.g., using touch. In this paper, the focus is on depicting how humans, as the users of robots, experience tactile emotional communication with the Nao Robot, as well as identifying aspects affecting the experience and touch behavior. A qualitative investigation was conducted as part of a larger experiment. The major findings consist of 15 different aspects that vary along one or more dimensions and how those influence the four dimensions of user experience that are present in the study, as well as the different parts of touch behavior of conveying emotions.

scholarly journals Reframing HRI Design Opportunities for Social Robots: Lessons Learnt from a Service Robotics Case Study Approach Using UX for HRI

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Khan ◽  
Claudio Germak
Keyword(s):  
Human Computer Interaction ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
A Company ◽  
Public Environment ◽  
Computer Interaction

Over the last few decades, semi-autonomous machine’s technology started to promote awareness towards the importance of human–robot interaction (HRI) for improving daily activities. More affordable social robots are being commercially released and in order to implement viable applications of HRI, a combination human-computer interaction and user experience methodologies could play a pivotal role in assessing new scenarios and evaluating new investigations. However, literature shows that it is still challenging to reach an optimal user experience with robotic companions. The aim of the study was to determine the chance to enhance the user experience with a semi-autonomous social robot, using user experience and human–computer interaction methodologies. In this study, a social robotic companion has been developed and prototyped in order to be adopted in a specific public environment such as a company workspace. The challenges emerged from this peculiar environment triggered the need for a more productive and comfortable office for the employees, and, at the same time, the usability, acceptance and likeability of the robotic companion have been evaluated. The results emphasize that, since HRI is highly interdisciplinary, the benefits of combining approaches from other fields could positively benefit from a meaningful social interaction with the users.

scholarly journals 10 Years of Human-NAO Interaction Research: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aida Amirova ◽  
Nazerke Rakhymbayeva ◽  
Elmira Yadollahi ◽  
Anara Sandygulova ◽  
Wafa Johal
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Nao Robot ◽  
Current State ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Humanoid Nao ◽  
Interaction Research

The evolving field of human-robot interaction (HRI) necessitates that we better understand how social robots operate and interact with humans. This scoping review provides an overview of about 300 research works focusing on the use of the NAO robot from 2010 to 2020. This study presents one of the most extensive and inclusive pieces of evidence on the deployment of the humanoid NAO robot and its global reach. Unlike most reviews, we provide both qualitative and quantitative results regarding how NAO is being used and what has been achieved so far. We analyzed a wide range of theoretical, empirical, and technical contributions that provide multidimensional insights, such as general trends in terms of application, the robot capabilities, its input and output modalities of communication, and the human-robot interaction experiments that featured NAO (e.g. number and roles of participants, design, and the length of interaction). Lastly, we derive from the review some research gaps in current state-of-the-art and provide suggestions for the design of the next generation of social robots.

The “Social” of the Socially Interactive Robot: Rethinking Human-Robot Interaction Through Ethnomethodology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salla Jarske ◽  
Sanna Raudaskoski ◽  
Kirsikka Kaipainen
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Moral Obligation ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
The Social ◽  
Normative Practice ◽  
Normative Practices

As social robots project socially interactive skills including speech and gestures, they are in a position to project normative practices that humans ordinarily rely upon in their everyday interactions with each other. Social robots enable experiences that are reducible to interaction as a normative practice, such as a sense of moral obligation to respond to a robot’s greeting. This may have consequences both for the user experience and the design of social robots that are currently overlooked. We propose that theoretical-methodological tools from ethnomethodology should be applied to evaluate and investigate the experiences related to social interaction with social robots.

scholarly journals Human-Robot Handshaking: A Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vignesh Prasad ◽  
Ruth Stock-Homburg ◽  
Jan Peters
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Natural Interaction ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Verbal Behaviour ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Physical Touch

AbstractFor some years now, the use of social, anthropomorphic robots in various situations has been on the rise. These are robots developed to interact with humans and are equipped with corresponding extremities. They already support human users in various industries, such as retail, gastronomy, hotels, education and healthcare. During such Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) scenarios, physical touch plays a central role in the various applications of social robots as interactive non-verbal behaviour is a key factor in making the interaction more natural. Shaking hands is a simple, natural interaction used commonly in many social contexts and is seen as a symbol of greeting, farewell and congratulations. In this paper, we take a look at the existing state of Human-Robot Handshaking research, categorise the works based on their focus areas, draw out the major findings of these areas while analysing their pitfalls. We mainly see that some form of synchronisation exists during the different phases of the interaction. In addition to this, we also find that additional factors like gaze, voice facial expressions etc. can affect the perception of a robotic handshake and that internal factors like personality and mood can affect the way in which handshaking behaviours are executed by humans. Based on the findings and insights, we finally discuss possible ways forward for research on such physically interactive behaviours.

scholarly journals Survey of Emotions in Human–Robot Interactions: Perspectives from Robotic Psychology on 20 Years of Research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Stock-Homburg
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Artificial Emotions ◽  
Art Research ◽  
Research Domain

AbstractKnowledge production within the interdisciplinary field of human–robot interaction (HRI) with social robots has accelerated, despite the continued fragmentation of the research domain. Together, these features make it hard to remain at the forefront of research or assess the collective evidence pertaining to specific areas, such as the role of emotions in HRI. This systematic review of state-of-the-art research into humans’ recognition and responses to artificial emotions of social robots during HRI encompasses the years 2000–2020. In accordance with a stimulus–organism–response framework, the review advances robotic psychology by revealing current knowledge about (1) the generation of artificial robotic emotions (stimulus), (2) human recognition of robotic artificial emotions (organism), and (3) human responses to robotic emotions (response), as well as (4) other contingencies that affect emotions as moderators.

scholarly journals Should my robot know what's best for me? Human–robot interaction between user experience and ethical design

AI & Society ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Fronemann ◽  
Kathrin Pollmann ◽  
Wulf Loh
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Interaction Design ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Ethical Design

AbstractTo integrate social robots in real-life contexts, it is crucial that they are accepted by the users. Acceptance is not only related to the functionality of the robot but also strongly depends on how the user experiences the interaction. Established design principles from usability and user experience research can be applied to the realm of human–robot interaction, to design robot behavior for the comfort and well-being of the user. Focusing the design on these aspects alone, however, comes with certain ethical challenges, especially regarding the user’s privacy and autonomy. Based on an example scenario of human–robot interaction in elder care, this paper discusses how established design principles can be used in social robotic design. It then juxtaposes these with ethical considerations such as privacy and user autonomy. Combining user experience and ethical perspectives, we propose adjustments to the original design principles and canvass our own design recommendations for a positive and ethically acceptable social human–robot interaction design. In doing so, we show that positive user experience and ethical design may be sometimes at odds, but can be reconciled in many cases, if designers are willing to adjust and amend time-tested design principles.

scholarly journals Improving Human–Robot Interaction by Enhancing NAO Robot Awareness of Human Facial Expression

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6438
Author(s):  
Chiara Filippini ◽  
David Perpetuini ◽  
Daniela Cardone ◽  
Arcangelo Merla
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expression ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Facial Expression Recognition ◽  
Affective Computing ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Expression Recognition ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Interaction Field ◽  
Nao Robot

An intriguing challenge in the human–robot interaction field is the prospect of endowing robots with emotional intelligence to make the interaction more genuine, intuitive, and natural. A crucial aspect in achieving this goal is the robot’s capability to infer and interpret human emotions. Thanks to its design and open programming platform, the NAO humanoid robot is one of the most widely used agents for human interaction. As with person-to-person communication, facial expressions are the privileged channel for recognizing the interlocutor’s emotional expressions. Although NAO is equipped with a facial expression recognition module, specific use cases may require additional features and affective computing capabilities that are not currently available. This study proposes a highly accurate convolutional-neural-network-based facial expression recognition model that is able to further enhance the NAO robot’ awareness of human facial expressions and provide the robot with an interlocutor’s arousal level detection capability. Indeed, the model tested during human–robot interactions was 91% and 90% accurate in recognizing happy and sad facial expressions, respectively; 75% accurate in recognizing surprised and scared expressions; and less accurate in recognizing neutral and angry expressions. Finally, the model was successfully integrated into the NAO SDK, thus allowing for high-performing facial expression classification with an inference time of 0.34 ± 0.04 s.

Socially Embodied Human-Robot Interaction

2015 ◽  
pp. 169-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lindblom ◽  
B. Alenljung
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Crucial Importance ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Fundamental Challenge ◽  
Socially Interactive Robots

A fundamental challenge of human interaction with socially interactive robots, compared to other interactive products, comes from them being embodied. The embodied nature of social robots questions to what degree humans can interact ‘naturally' with robots, and what impact the interaction quality has on the user experience (UX). UX is fundamentally about emotions that arise and form in humans through the use of technology in a particular situation. This chapter aims to contribute to the field of human-robot interaction (HRI) by addressing, in further detail, the role and relevance of embodied cognition for human social interaction, and consequently what role embodiment can play in HRI, especially for socially interactive robots. Furthermore, some challenges for socially embodied interaction between humans and socially interactive robots are outlined and possible directions for future research are presented. It is concluded that the body is of crucial importance in understanding emotion and cognition in general, and, in particular, for a positive user experience to emerge when interacting with socially interactive robots.

Affective Goal and Task Selection for Social Robots

2009 ◽  
pp. 74-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Scheutz ◽  
Paul Schermerhorn
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Real World ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Task Selection ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
Selection Of

Effective decision-making under real-world conditions can be very difficult as purely rational methods of decision-making are often not feasible or applicable. Psychologists have long hypothesized that humans are able to cope with time and resource limitations by employing affective evaluations rather than rational ones. In this chapter, we present the distributed integrated affect cognition and reflection architecture DIARC for social robots intended for natural human-robot interaction and demonstrate the utility of its human-inspired affect mechanisms for the selection of tasks and goals. Specifically, we show that DIARC incorporates affect mechanisms throughout the architecture, which are based on “evaluation signals” generated in each architectural component to obtain quick and efficient estimates of the state of the component, and illustrate the operation and utility of these mechanisms with examples from human-robot interaction experiments.

Special Issue on Human-Robot Interaction in Close Distance

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Masahiro Shiomi ◽  
Hidenobu Sumioka ◽  
Hiroshi Ishiguro
Keyword(s):  
Physical Distance ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Industrial Robots ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Behavior Design ◽  
Physical Interactions ◽  
Close Distance

As social robot research is advancing, the interaction distance between people and robots is decreasing. Indeed, although we were once required to maintain a certain physical distance from traditional industrial robots for safety, we can now interact with social robots in such a close distance that we can touch them. The physical existence of social robots will be essential to realize natural and acceptable interactions with people in daily environments. Because social robots function in our daily environments, we must design scenarios where robots interact closely with humans by considering various viewpoints. Interactions that involve touching robots influence the changes in the behavior of a person strongly. Therefore, robotics researchers and developers need to design such scenarios carefully. Based on these considerations, this special issue focuses on close human-robot interactions. This special issue on “Human-Robot Interaction in Close Distance” includes a review paper and 11 other interesting papers covering various topics such as social touch interactions, non-verbal behavior design for touch interactions, child-robot interactions including physical contact, conversations with physical interactions, motion copying systems, and mobile human-robot interactions. We thank all the authors and reviewers of the papers and hope this special issue will help readers better understand human-robot interaction in close distance.

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